RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The 86th Material Maintenance Squadron Senior Customs Clearance Agent Program conducted a routine cargo inspection in Sanem, Luxembourg, Nov. 16, 2017.
With the help of their Sanem counterparts, 86th MMS senior customs border control agent Staff Sgt. Jake Martin manages the program which allows them to efficiently ship Department of Defense equipment to the U.S. without the cargo being stopped at customs.
“As an inspector, we maintain specialized North Atlantic Treaty Organization stamps issued to us by United States Department of Agriculture,” Martin said. “These stamps allow us to inspect and clear cargo, as well as make sure it’s packed properly, the paperwork is good, the correct items are inside, and sterilized.”
The program, maintained in Luxemburg, ships DoD equipment such as gaskets, valves, and even vehicles back to the U.S.
“Once cleared, we then process paperwork,” Martin said. “When the cargo arrives, it instantly goes to location. This process greatly expedites the process and saves a remarkable amount of tax dollars, in the realm of hundreds of millions of tax dollars a year.”
Clearing these shipments is an important task, as the inspections also prevent potential problems that can interfere with the mission.
“Cargo must also be cleared of any bugs or dirt that can contaminate a different environment,” Martin said. “It can be a big problem. European soil can lead to different types of invasive plants and insects that can really harm our crops, wildlife, and vegetation. Anything not native has the potential to be a hazard so we ensure that the cargo is clean and sterilized before it leaves.”
After the Sanem team palletizes the cargo, it is inspected and cleared to support multiple areas of responsibility across America, the seamless collaboration between both teams ensuring DOD property is properly distributed to the bases in need of supplies.
“Though there is a physical distance between us here in Luxembourg and Ramstein, there has always been a good working relationship with each other to get the job done,” said Nicolas Muller, 86th MMS quality assurance inspector at Sanem.